Givona Sandiford

Dr. Givona Sandiford, a trailblazing entrepreneur and speech-language pathologist, has garnered recognition for her significant contributions to healthcare and technology through her innovative work with Melospeech Inc. With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Sandiford holds licensure and national certification in her field, along with certifications as a Certified Autism Specialist, Assistive Technology Applications Certified Professional, and a SHRM Certified Professional. Her expertise extends across treating a wide range of speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, and feeding disorders in various settings. Dr. Sandiford's journey to entrepreneurship was marked by her determination to overcome personal challenges, including a serious diagnosis of postpartum depression. Her resilience led to the founding of Melospeech Inc., a tech-based mobile speech therapy startup focused on serving at-risk infants, toddlers, and youths with disabilities in California. The company uses self-developed technology to increase access to speech therapy services, especially in underserved communities, by implementing family-based supports in the natural home, community, or virtual settings. Under her leadership, Melospeech has expanded to serve five regions with a team of over 40 professionals, emphasizing Dr. Sandiford's commitment to making a positive impact on children's lives. Her groundbreaking work has not gone unnoticed. Dr. Sandiford received the 2023 TITAN Women in Business Award in the Inspiring Leader of the Year (New Start-Up) category, showcasing her as a female entrepreneur of the year who has made significant strides in her industry. Additionally, she was recognized in the 2022 Entreprenista 100 Awards, underscoring her role as a leading woman in business who exemplifies innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial success. These accolades highlight Dr. Sandiford's exceptional drive, her innovative approach to speech therapy, and her unwavering dedication to improving the lives of children with communication challenges. Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, Dr. Sandiford is an advocate for leveraging technology in healthcare, having developed award-winning research on Melodic Based Communication Therapy (M.B.C.T.)® for autistic nonspeaking individuals and creating educational apps to assist the nonspeaking autistic population. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) SIG 19, Speech Science, and ASHA SIG 11, Administration and Supervision.